Magnetic writing pad



Feb. 14, 1950 0, TEETOR 2,497,332

MAGNETIC WRITING PAD Filed Deo. 29, 1945 if i0 ZNVENTOR.

Macy O. Teeim Patented Feb, 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT omer-1 2,491,332 MAGNETIC warrmc ran Macy 0. Tector, New Castle, Ind. Application December, 1945, Serial No. maos 4 Claims. 1 I

This invention relates to writing pads and more particularly to a writing pad having loose sheets of paper adapted to be retained on a writing surface by magnetic attraction.

The present invention serves to overcome the deficiencies of the writing D ds and writing boards which have heretofore been employed for a variety of uses. Some of such writing pads which comprised a plurality of stacked paper sheets secured together and to a cardboard backing by and adhesive substance tended to slip around during writing and thus required the use of two hands, one for writing and one for holding the pad. Another disadvantage of such pads was that when the upper sheet thereof was full and a second was required, it was necessary that two hands be used in order to tear oil the upper sheet. The requirement that two hands be used was particularly undesirable when, for instance, notes were being made during a telephone conversation.

The tendency toward slippage was all the greater where the sheets of paper were loose and were merely placed upon a flat surface without specific retaining means other than that afforded by the other hand of the writer. Such loose sheets were also combined with flat writing boards at the top of which was secured a spring actuated clamp adapted to engage the upper edges of a stack of loose paper sheets. However, such retaining means did not hold down the sh'ets at their lower edges and caused them to raise up ofi the board so as to become creased or wrinkled. Also, it was necessary to use both hands in order to release a consumed top sheet from under the spring clamp.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved writing pad.

Another object is to provide an improved writing pad comprising a sheet of writing paper retained against slippage on a metal writing surface by magnetic means.

Still another object is to provide an improved writing pad of such construction that a sheet of paper may be securely retained in writing position against slippage and removed therefrom and replaced without requiring the use of two hands.

A further object is to provide a writing pad having a flat non-slip writing surface adapted to support and retain loose sheets of writing paper in writing position against slippage during writing.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as 56 2 this description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure lis a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an improved writing pad comprising my invention;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevational view of the embodim1 ent of improved writing pad shown in Fig.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same; and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the magnetic unit that is adapted to retain a reserve supply of loose sheets of writing paper in accessible position.

Generally, the preferred embodiment of improved magnetic writing pad comprising my invention and illustrated in the drawing comprises a flat metal plate l0 having a vertically extending rear wall ll against which a plurality of paper sheets I! constituting a reserve supply may be held by a magnetic supporting unit l3. On the upper surface of the metal plate In there is supported a single sheet of writing or note paper it which is held down in writing position by four magnets l6 disposed on the top surface of the sheet I adjacent each of its respective corners.

The flat metal plate is composed of a magnetic metal of thin construction and on its upper surface it is provided with a thin layer or film ll, illustrated diagrammatically in the drawing, of substantially pure black magnetic oxide (F8304 or ferroso-ferric oxide), formed thereon in accordance with the manner disclosed in the Given Patent No. 2,202,773 of May 28, 1940. This film I! may be from .0003 to .0010 of an inch thick and is composed of hard granular particles of a fine nature. The black magnetic film I1 is of such a slightly roughened character that when a single sheet of paper It is placed in writing position thereon, the tendency of the sheet it to slip or creep during writing iseliminated due to the frictional resistance set up between the under surface of the sheet it and the plate film ll. However, it is to be noted that the slightly roughened character of the black oxide illm H is not to a degree that would cause an irregular or bumpy writing surface, but, in fact, is almost smooth to the touch and the written line has the same appearance as one written on a normally smooth writing surface. Thus, the film I! while preventing slippage or creepage of the single paper sheet l4 during writing, has absolutely no detracting eflect whatever upon the ability of the plate ill to serve as a writing surface.

The plate II) has secured'to its bottom surface a thin felt pad IS in order to prevent damage to any supporting surface upon which the writ ing pad may be placed. The rear vertical wall H at the back or upper edge of'the plate i is integrally formed therewith and has forwardly extending L-shaped ear portions i8 at each vertical side edge which, together with the rear wall ll, provide an enclosure or storage space where a reserve supply i2 of single writing sheets may be kept in readily accessible position for future use.

The magnetic supporting unit as, which serves to retain the reserve supply of sheets i2 in accessible vertical position against the rear wall ii, comprises a one quarter sphere portion a composed of plastic or other suitable material and having a fiat vertical side wall and a flat bottom wall. Molded in the quarter sphere portion i311, at the bottom thereof is a permanent U magnet i3b having its north and south poles spaced apart and exposed in flush relationship with the bottom surface of the quarter sphere l3a. A fiat and substantially rectangular plastic plate lie is secured to the vertical face of the quarter sphere l3a by cement or other suitable means and is of such enlarged height and width with respect to the quarter sphere I311 as to present a relatively large bearing area for supporting engagement with the reserve supply of writing sheets l2. When the supporting unit i3, thus, is placed with its vertical plate l3c bearing against a stack of loose sheets l2, its bottom surface will be in engagement with the black magnetic oxide film ll of the plate i0 so that the spaced poles of the magnet l3b are in intimate engagement therewith for a maximum degree of magnetic attraction. The magnet I3b prevents horizontal or vertical movement of the supporting unit l3 and thus serves to retain the unit in proper bearing engagement against the reserve sheets If.

The permanent magnets i6 which are disposed at each of the four corners of the single sheet ll, are of the small circular but powerful type having a high degree of magnetism. Each of the four magnets l6 are fiat on their top surfaces and on the bottom surfaces each has a diametric groove which defines the north and south poles thereof. The black oxide film I! provides a magnetic surface that is greatly attracted by the poles of the magnets is so that the single sheet is held down on the metal plate 10 by a high degree of magnetic attraction which is sufliciently great to successfully resist extensive horizontal movement when brushed by the hand during writing or when disturbed by other forces. Thus, the single sheet ll when in writing position on the metal plate i0 is definitely and securely held flat by the magnets l6 and because of the frictional resistance set up between the black oxide film i! and the undersurface of the sheet I4, the sheet It remains flat in the same writing position without creepage at all times. It is also to be noted that the ma nets IG are of minimum height so as not to interfere with the hand when writing on the sheet l4.

As a result of the foregoing arrangement, the necessity of holding the sheet Hi against slippage when writing thereon is eliminated and the nonwriting hand may serve to hold the receiver of a telephone, for instance, when notes are being made during a telephone conversation. If during such a, telephone conversation, the sheet It becomes filled, it may be removed and readily replaced by a fresh sheet from the reserve supply l2 with the writing hand only and without requiring the receiver to be laid aside. To accomplish this replacement the writer may with the one hand brush or lift aside the magnets l6, remove the filled sheet 96, pull a fresh sheet from the reserve supply it and place it in writing position on the metal plate is, and then restore the magnets it to their proper positions adjacent the corners of the writing sheet, after which writing may be resumed.

when the magnetic pad is not in use for writing purposes, the magnets iii, the reserve supply of sheets i2 and their supporting unit it are retained in proper assembled position on the metal plate it by the high degree of magnetic attraction between the magnets is and l3b, respectively, and the black oxide film W, and the chances of the various parts becoming lost or separated from each other have, thereby, been reduced to a minimum. The writing pad, therefore, may be carried about and handled at various angles under conditions of normal use without requiring the user thereof to exercise any special degree of care to prevent disassembly or loss of the parts.

Although there has been shown in the drawing and described above one preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the following claims to include within the scope of the invention all variations and modifications by which the results of the invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

I claim: a

l. A writing pad comprising a flat magnetic metal plate and magnet means adapted to be positioned on said plate for retaining a sheet of writing paper in flat writing position by magnetic attraction with respect to the plate, said plate also being provided with a slightly roughened upper surface composed of a coating of ferrosoferric oxide adapted to present a suitable writing surface and to frictionally engage the under surface of a, sheet of writing paper to prevent movement thereof during writing.

2. A writing pad comprising a fiat magnetic metal plate, magnet means adapted to be positioned on said plate for retaining a sheet of writing paper in flat writing position by magnetic attraction with respect to the plate, said plate also being provided with a slightly roughened upper surface adapted to present-a suitable writing surface and to frictionally engage the under surface of a sheet of writing paper to prevent movement thereof during writing, a vertical retaining wall at one end of said plate, and a magnetic holder retainable by magnetic attraction on said plate and forming with said retaining wall a storage compartment.

3. A writing pad comprising a fiat magnetic metal plate, magnet means adapted to be positioned on said plate for retaining a sheet of writing paper in fiat writing position by magnetic attraction with respect to the plate, said plate also being provided with a slightly roughened upper surface composed of a coating of ferroso-ferric oxide adapted to present a suitable writing surface and to frictionally engage the under surface of a sheet of writing paper to prevent movement thereof during writing, a vertical retaining wall at one end of said plate, and a retaining member having a horizontal, magnet-containing surface adapted to engage said plate and to be retained thereon by magnetic attraction, said retaining member also having a vertical portion adapted to be spaced from said vertical retaining 5 wall when said horizontal surface is in place on said plate to form a storage compartment for loose sheets of writing paper.

4. A writing pad comprising a flat magnetic metal plate, magnet means adapted to be positioned on said plate for retaining a sheet of writing paper in flat, stationary writing position by magnetic attraction with respect to said plate, a vertical retaining wall at one side of said plate, and a magnetic supporting unit having a magnet at its bottom for magnetic attraction with respect to said metal plate and a bearing portion adapted to engage and support a reserve supply 10 Number of loose sheets of writing paper against said retaining wall.

MACY O. TEETOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

